Conditions for Sam Son Tourism Development

Sam Son was built into a resort to serve the French and the Nguyen Dynasty kings and mandarins. This was the time that marked the birth of Sam Son tourism.

On April 19, 1963, the Government Council of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam issued Decision No. 50/CP to establish Sam Son town, including Sam Son resort and Quang Son commune, under the Thanh Hoa Provincial Administrative Committee. Sam Son town was officially established on December 18, 1981 under Decision No. 157/QD/HDBT. In April 2012, Sam Son town was recognized as a type 3 urban area.

Pursuant to Resolution No. 935/NQ-UBTVQH13 dated May 15, 2015 of the Standing Committee of the 13th National Assembly on adjusting the administrative boundaries of Quang Xuong district and Sam Son town. Sam Son was expanded with 6 more communes: Quang Chau, Quang Tho, Quang Vinh, Quang Minh, Quang Hung, Quang Dai belonging to Quang Xuong district. In 2017, Sam Son city had 11 administrative units including 08 wards and 03 communes with a total natural area of 44.94 km2 and 150,902 people [19].

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Source: Statistical Office, Sam Son City, 2017 Developed by: Author

Figure 2.2. Administrative Map of Sam Son City

2.2. Conditions for tourism development in Sam Son

2.2.1. Natural tourism resources

Sam Son's natural tourism resources are rich and diverse. The interweaving of terrain types (rivers, mountains, seas), between beaches with Truong Le mountain and river landscapes, along with lakes, lagoons in Quang Cu and pine and casuarina ranges along the coast... are very favorable conditions for Sam Son to develop many attractive types of tourism. [14]; [ 19]; [31]

* Sam Son Beach

Nature has endowed Sam Son with a coastline of about 9km, from Hoi estuary (Ma River) to Vung Tien (Vung Ngoc) with beautiful beaches such as inner-city beaches (A, B, C, D), Quang Cu beach, Nix beach, Lan beach, Vung Tien beach. Most of the beaches are inclined from West to East. The beaches have common characteristics of being wide, flat, gently sloping, fine white sand, no reefs and many other minerals with healing effects... very suitable for swimming and recreational activities. Sam Son beach impresses with big waves, each layer of white-capped waves splashing white foam, creating a strong feeling for tourists. With a tropical monsoon climate, Sam Son beach is warm in winter and cool in summer.

With the new decision to merge 6 more communes on the southern coast of Truong Le mountain into the administrative boundaries of the city, the Sam Son coastline has been extended more than twice as long as before, creating more conditions and opportunities to form new marine tourism products. At the foot of the southern Truong Le mountain range (where Uncle Ho came to rest in 1960), starting from the foot of the mountain to the Do river creek, the beach forms a beautiful arc shape, with calm and soft waves. This place can organize very suitable sea sports.

* Truong Le mountain range

Located close to the coast, south of Sam Son City, Truong Le is a range of granite mountains in the process of weathering, in many places there are still bedrocks, especially the parts protruding into the sea, creating steep, spectacular cliffs. Truong Le consists of 16 mountains (the highest is 84.7m) covered by more than 201.2 hectares of planted forest. Truong Le has a completely natural beauty of mountains and sea that cannot be found anywhere else. Each mountain is associated with a legend and its external appearance naturally opens up the imagination of tourists.

admiring different images. The mountain has steep cliffs facing the sea, creating a majestic appearance, suitable for mountain climbing and adventure tourism. On the other hand, there are wide lawns, gentle slopes and hills made of ancient granite or metamorphic rocks in the shape of bowls (typically Doc Cuoc granite) suitable for camping and other recreational activities. The contrast between the tranquility of the mountains and forests on the Truong Le range and the sound of waves crashing day and night on the beach at the foot of the mountain creates an interesting highlight for every visitor when coming to Sam Son.

* Rooster and Hen Islet

Hon Trong Mai is the name of two rocks precariously standing on the top of Truong Le mountain range, resembling a pair of giant stone birds with their heads together, their beaks tilted, the sound of the ocean waves and the rustling of the pine trees creating sounds that give visitors the feeling that it is the whispering and intimate conversation of the pair of cock and hen birds. The miraculous thing is that this precarious position is still steadfast despite the flow of time. The legend of Hon Trong Mai - the pair of stone birds contains great humanistic meaning, reflecting the eternal dream of the people here for a peaceful, prosperous and happy life. Since ancient times, Hon Trong Mai has always been a lyrical picture imbued with humanity, an endless source of inspiration for writers and poets. Today, it is unknown how many young couples have come here to preserve the most beautiful and happiest images of their lives.

* Ma River, Do River

The natural landscape along the banks of the Ma River and the Do River is a favorable condition for Sam Son to develop ecotourism routes on the river and sea. Starting from Cua Hoi in the North, visitors can take a boat to Hon Me and further to the South, or go upstream on the Ma River to visit the Ham Rong and Lam Son relics, the Le Dynasty relics and other relics and scenic spots in the province. In particular, the Do River flowing along the city (from the Ma River in the North to Truong Le culvert in the South) has a quite attractive natural landscape with lotus ponds in the South of An Duong Vuong Temple, which is a potential tourism resource of Sam Son to develop ecotourism. The interweaving of terrain types (rivers, mountains, seas), between beaches with Truong Le Mountain and river landscapes, along with lakes, lagoons in Quang Cu and pine and casuarina ranges along the coast creates a rich and diverse tourism resource, which is a very favorable condition for Sam Son to develop many attractive types of tourism.

* Climate

Sam Son City is located in the Northern Vietnam climate zone, in the tropical monsoon climate zone with cold winters. The climate is divided into two distinct seasons: hot, humid summers with lots of rain and cold, low-rain winters.

In general, the climate in Sam Son has a clear division, but due to the moderating effect of the sea, the climate is relatively pleasant, cool in the summer, warm in the winter, quite good for swimming and sightseeing and relaxation activities.

2.2.2. Human tourism resources

Sam Son is a land with a long historical tradition, a locality with a dense density of relics, many historical and cultural relics ranked at national and provincial levels such as Doc Cuoc Temple, Co Tien Temple,... Coming to Sam Son, visitors can also participate in many unique festivals such as: New Year's Blessing Festival, Banh Chung - Banh Day Festival, Cau Ngu - Boi Chai Festival...[14]; [31]

* Doc Cuoc Temple

Located on Co Giai Islet in Truong Le Mountain, Truong Son Ward. Worshiping the One-Legged God (Doc Cuoc) who had the merit of splitting his body in two, defeating the Water Monster, protecting the peaceful life of Sam Son fishermen, worshiped by the people in 4 seasons of worship. The relic was ranked by the Ministry of Culture - Information in 1962.

* Fairy Temple

Located in a beautiful, airy position to the south of Truong Le mountain. An old legend has it that: This temple worships a girl who worked as a medicine man to save people. Because the girl disobeyed her father and married a rich man, her father chased her away. Later, she fell in love and married a poor but kind-hearted man named Coi. While life was peaceful, she got leprosy, then an old man appeared and treated her with herbal medicine and spring water from Vung Tien. The girl recovered, the old woman passed away, leaving the couple a bag to protect them from the rain and a rattan basket to hold medicinal medicine to save people.

One time, the couple came home late at night from a medical treatment and encountered a heavy rain. Remembering the old lady's advice, they took out their bag to shield themselves from the rain and fell asleep without realizing it. When they woke up in the morning, the couple found themselves sitting in a spacious, clean 3-room house. From then on, they stayed in the house, picking medicinal herbs to treat people in the area. One beautiful morning, the whole

The couple dressed very nicely, held hands and went to the top of the mountain and never returned. Since then, the house has become a Fairy Temple, which is cleaned by the villagers with incense. The temple was honored to be visited and rested by Uncle Ho in 1960. After many minor repairs, at the end of 2010, the People's Committee of Sam Son Town decided to invest in restoration and embellishment, and has been restored and repaired many times. It is a relic ranked by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1962.

* To Hien Thanh Temple

Located modestly on the northeastern slope of Truong Le mountain range in Truong Son Ward, it worships Thai Uy To Hien Thanh, a talented general, an honest and upright mandarin of the Ly Dynasty. The relic was ranked by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1962.

* Hoang Minh Tu Temple (Also known as the Third Temple)

Hoang Minh Tu Temple is located in Son Thuy Quarter - Truong Son Ward. It is a relic located in the overall relic area of great historical value of Truong Son Ward in particular and Sam Son Town in general. People in the village often call it Ha Temple (According to geographical location, Doc Cuoc Temple is Thuong Temple, To Hien Thanh Temple is Trung Temple).

The temple worships the God Hoang Minh Tu - Do Quan Hoang Giap. It is a symbol of academic success. The temple was recognized as a historical and cultural relic by the Thanh Hoa Department of Culture and Information in 2005.

* Khai Minh Pagoda

The ancient pagoda was restored (1994) with the largest scale in the Buddhist worship system in Sam Son. The pagoda has dozens of beautiful ancient statues, large stone gongs and bronze bells with the inscription "Dong Khe ap chung". Khai Minh Pagoda is now located in Binh Son Quarter, Bac Son Ward. It was recognized as a Cultural and Historical Relic by the Department of Culture and Information of Thanh Hoa in 1994.

* Luong Trung Village Pagoda (Also known as Thanh Am Tu)

Located in Long Son quarter, Bac Son ward. This is also a pagoda that was restored after being demolished. It is a place for spiritual and cultural activities of the people in the area. There are two main belief systems: worshiping God (Village God) and worshiping Buddha. The relic was recognized as a Cultural and Historical Relic by the Department of Culture and Information of Thanh Hoa in 1999.

* De Linh Temple (Located in Trung Son Ward)

This is the temple to worship the village god of Luong Trung: Duong Cong Quang Loc, the Four Pillars of the court during the reign of King Le Tuong Duc (1510 - 1515) who had the merit of opening the people and establishing the village of Luong Trung in history. He is worshiped and honored by the people as the ancestor of Luong Trung Martial Arts School. On the occasion of the death anniversary of the god on January 16, a traditional festival is held here with cultural activities that educate many generations. The relic was recognized by the Department of Culture and Information of Thanh Hoa in 1995.

* Ba Trieu Temple

Belonging to the old Trieu Duong Village, now Xuan Phu and Vinh Thanh Quarters, Trung Son Ward. This is the temple to worship Ba Trieu; the founder of the sam suc weaving craft, a means of catching shrimp, mussels, and seafood of the people of Sam Son. Every year, the traditional festival takes place on the 10th day of the 2nd lunar month. The relic was recognized as a provincial-level scenic relic by the Department of Culture and Information of Thanh Hoa in 1995.

* Lap Fish Temple

Belonging to Quang Tien Ward, worshiping General Tran Duc who had many achievements in the fight against foreign invaders during the Tran Dynasty. He was granted the title of Quan Chanh military commander; Tra Lenh Hau by the King. He was posthumously honored by the Vietnamese feudal dynasties as: Tay Phuong Dai Tuong Quan. He was conferred the title of Than Hoang Lang Chap by the people of the area. This is a relic ranked as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture in 1999. Until now, the Temple has been restored and embellished on a fairly large scale.

* Loc Trung village temple (in Quang Tien ward)

This is also a temple that was restored over several decades ago, after the ruins remained in the old years. It worships General Nguyen Sy Dung, who made many achievements in the resistance war to defend the country during the reign of King Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue. The annual festival is also held on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year, held by local people to express their admiration, gratitude to him and to educate the tradition for future generations. The temple was recognized as a Cultural Historical Relic by the Department of Culture and Information in 1993.

* Hoi Village Temple

The temple is located next to Hoi Port, Quang Tien Ward. It is a place for spiritual and cultural activities of the Sam Son sea area in general and of the people of Hoi Village in particular. Every year, the traditional rowing festival is held here to compete with boat racers on the sea.

River and sea. This is also the gathering place for fishing boat owners to burn incense and pray before and after going out to sea. The relic was ranked by the Department of Culture and Information in 1993.

* Banh Chung and Banh Day Festival

Every year, on the 12th day of the 5th lunar month, the people of 4 villages in the old Luong Niem commune organize a procession, the Gods gather at Doc Cuoc Temple yard, perform ceremonies and compete in making Banh Chung - Banh Day. This is a festival to pray for rain (Cau Vu), to pray for calm seas and gentle winds, for good harvests, for peace in the village, and for people to go out to sea to catch lots of shrimp and fish.

Over the years, the Banh Chung - Banh Day Festival has become an indispensable and most exciting event in the annual Sam Son Cultural Tourism Festival, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world to admire and participate in the Festival.

* Fishing Festival (Boat Racing Festival - Rowing)

This is the traditional Cultural and Sports Festival of the people of Sam Son coastal area, held on the 15th day of the 5th lunar month. Previously, there were usually 4 villages in Luong Niem commune participating. The festival is usually held at Hoi estuary, where the Ma River flows from its source to the sea. Mainly for young men from the neighborhoods of Quang Tien Ward to compete in dragon boats that are larger than before, with more swimmers per boat (from 23 to 25 people). Since 2008, the Quang Tien Cau Ngu Festival has been upgraded to the Cau Ngu Festival of the entire town by the Chairman of Sam Son Town People's Committee.

Besides, Sam Son also has traditional craft villages such as bamboo weaving (Trieu Duong), fish sauce making village (Hoi village). Along with the hospitality and enthusiasm of the people of Sam Son, it is also a solid foundation for the development of the tourism industry.

In short, with the above potentials and advantages in tourism resources, Sam Son tourism can completely develop strongly, becoming an attractive and interesting destination for many tourists.

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